TRENTON — After 37 tense hours, police ended a standoff in a Grand Street home, killing the suspect and rescuing three children from horrifying conditions inside of the home.

Authorities described the ghastly conditions inside the home where an armed man had already killed two people leaving them to decompose inside of two bedrooms before eventually holding three of his girlfriend’s children hostage in a 10 by 11 foot room along with one of the bodies.

At 3:45 a.m. Sunday morning officers stormed into the home at 250 Grand Street, liberating three youths from the unimaginable horrors contained within. Police said a single shot was fired at 38-year-old Gerald Tyrone Murphy after he made what police are calling a threatening move toward one of the children. Murphy later died of his injuries at Capital Health Regional Medical Center, authorities said at a press conference on Sunday.

Murphy, who also went by the name “Skip” had a warrant out of Pennsylvania for failure to register as a sex offender, also had a lengthy criminal history prior to the events on Grand Street. Murphy’s criminal record included aggravated assault, robbery, criminal conspiracy and notably child endangerment.

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According to Trenton Police Director Ralph Rivera, the events unfolded in that 37 hour span began when a family member of 44-year-old Carmelita Stevens contacted police with concern because it had been some time since Stevens’ had been heard from. Rivera said that police were given additional information that Stevens’ two daughters had not been to school in 12 days.

Officers dispatched to conduct a welfare check forced entry into the home after a knock at the door garnered no response, prompting the officers’ concern for the safety of the family. When officers made entry through a rear door, they were met with an odor that Rivera said was “consistent with the smell of a decomposing body.” Officers also noted maggots throughout the home after they made entry.

Once inside of the home, officers heard Murphy’s voice coming from the second floor. Officers determined he was the front bedroom behind a closed door. Officials said that Murphy told them that there was a deceased individual in the bedroom with him along with three children. Police were also told that there was a deceased individual in a rear bedroom where they discovered a body in an advanced state of decomposition. Authorities have not yet identified the body found in the rear bedroom. Authorities believe, through their preliminary investigation, that Stevens and her 13-year-old son were murdered approximately two-weeks prior to the standoff. Officials said it was not clear if both had been killed at the same time.

Murphy told officers he was armed with a gun and explosives. On Friday, Murphy was observed brandishing a black handgun through the window, Mercer County Prosecutor Joesph Bocchini said.

Police located Stevens’ 19-year-old son, after securing the rest of the home, in the basement unharmed. Authorities believe that the 19-year-old was hiding in the basement, but did not confirm if that was the case.

In an interview with police the 19-year-old said he had not seen his mother or sisters since approximately April 24. Prosecutor Bocchini said the 19-year-old was medically evaluated and is now safely staying with family.

Police rescued three children, two females ages 18 and 16, and 4 year-old-boy from the home Sunday morning, they’re currently being evaluated and treated by medical personnel. Bocchini said that authorities are investigating allegations that the 16- and 18-year-old females were abused and assaulted while being held hostage in the 10-by-11-foot bedroom with Murphy. Bocchini said that arrangements are being made for the children to have all medical counseling and other service that they will need. They will be evaluated by Division of Child Protection and Permanency, then they will be placed with a family member.

Authorities declined comment on the specifics of how the children were kept inside of the room with Murphy.

“I have every reason to believe that the kids were in the room and that they were possibly restrained,” said Bocchini. “Again, the crime scene investigation is continuous.”

Prosecutor Bocchini thanked a number of agencies and specifically thanked the residents of Grand Street and the surrounding area for their patience throughout the standoff.

State Police Colonel Rick Fuentes told reporters that officers were still working an active investigation. Fuentes said that there is also a shooting investigation involving their officers. State Police said they would be releasing further information in the coming days.

Fuentes said that approximately 60 troopers were deployed after Trenton Police requested their assistance with the barricaded suspect. Negotiators maintained contact with Murphy throughout the standoff, but declined comment on what, if any, demands the 38-year-old had.

“It was a very complex standoff given the space that they were in and the number of hostages that they had,” said Fuentes. “They were up on the second floor.”

Authorities have not offered any insight on what may have prompted Murphy to kill Stevens and her 13-year-old son before barricading himself inside of the home. None of the five children were Murphy’s.

“During the whole incident , the welfare of the children who were being held hostage were of paramount concern,” Fuentes said. “We passed food and bottled water through an upper window, watching and waiting for the best opportunity to end the standoff safely.”

Since Friday, residents in the area said they couldn’t believe the man they knew as “Skip” to be a violent person. Some described him as a quiet guy who always seemed to help his neighbors and a man who was known to train other people’s dogs.

“First, let me extend my condolences to the family of the victims of this tragedy,” said Mack in a statement. “Second, I would like to thank law enforcement agencies, especially the Trenton Police Department for their professional response and for working toward a peaceful resolution. I would also like to commend the City’s Health Department who partnered with the American Red Cross to provide shelter and food for displaced residents.”